Ground maintenance apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ground maintenance apparatus which may be used for slicing, scarifying, dethatching and mowing of grass or turf is disclosed. The apparatus may also be used for sweeping and vacuuming of turf, and is particularly directed at ground or turf aeration apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to ground maintenance apparatus which may be usedfor slicing, scarifying, dethatching and mowing of grass or turf. Theground maintenance apparatus of the invention may also be used forsweeping and vacuuming of turf. The invention is particularly directedat ground or turf aeration apparatus.

2. Background

Hitherto conventional ground maintenance or ground aeration apparatus isdescribed in WO 99/09802 which relates to a movable vehicle having aslicing mechanism which comprises spaced cutters mounted to a rotatablesupport axle for slicing the ground. The support axle was attached to asub frame which could be raised or lowered relative to a main frame forthe purpose of assuming a non operational or operational position. Inthis arrangement V shaped slices may be imparted to the ground and thisoperation is advantageous in that it means that the ground is aeratedfacilitating the ingress of surface moisture to the root systems ofgrass or turf. Also the slicing operation enables ground aeration to becarried out efficiently where the least amount of damage is imparted tothe grass or turf.

The ground aeration apparatus as described above can also be used forscarifying which involves removal of a top section of grass in rows25–46 mm apart and at a depth of 3–5 mm. This is a necessary requirementfor golf greens as it results in dethatching of golfing greens whichinvolves removal of a matted surface layer of the green which issubstantially imperious to flow of liquid therethrough and thusinhibition of moisture or fertiliser reaching the root system results.

In one conventional arrangement there was provided a turf aerationmachine which was attached to a tractor having a scarifier rotor havingcounter rotating reels or blades fitted to a rotatable shaft which wasdriven by the power take off shaft of the tractor. A range of otherrotors could be used in place of the scarifier rotor and these includeda dethatcher rotor, flail rotor or broom rotor. If it was desired tovacuum scarified material instead of leaving it on the ground a vacuumpump was fitted to an output duct from the turf aeration machine whichthen sucked or removed scarified material from the scarifier rotor intoa hopper which was attached to the turf aeration machine. There was alsoprovided adjustable front and rear rollers with a flexible top linkageto the tractor that allowed precision height control and operation overcontours and modulations. This turf aeration machine may be inspected atwww.turfmach.com.

However a first disadvantage of this conventional arrangement was thatit could not be used in wet or waterlogged conditions and thus this factlimited its use to dry conditions.

A second disadvantage of the conventional arrangement described abovewas that the turf aeration machine was connected to the tractor by athree point linkage wherein there were provided a pair of hydraulic armsof the tractor pivotally attached to a transverse bar of the turfaeration machine and there was also provided a fixed upper link betweenthe tractor and the turf aeration machine. This meant that when a hopperwas attached to the turf aeration machine upon turning of the tractorthis resulted in skidding or lurching of the hopper. This meant that thecombined assembly of trailer, turf aeration machine and hopper wouldonly follow a straight line during operation. This factor severelycurtailed manoeuvrability of the combined assembly of tractor, turfaeration machine and hopper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Advantages of One or More Embodiments of the Present Invention

A first object of the invention is to provide a ground maintenancemachine and in particular a turf aeration apparatus that may alleviatethe first disadvantage of the prior art.

A second object of the invention is to provide a hitch assembly that mayalleviate the second disadvantage of the prior art.

Brief Description of the Present Invention

The invention in a first aspect therefore provides a hitch assembly foruse between a primer mover and a trailed vehicle wherein said hitchassembly comprises:

-   -   (i) a transverse member attachable by pivot attachment means to        each movable arm of the prime mover at spaced locations on the        transverse member in use whereby each of said movable arms is        pivotable about a horizontal axis defined by the transverse        member; and    -   (ii) pivot connection means connectable between the transverse        member and a frame member of draw bar of the trailed vehicle        whereby in use the frame member or draw bar of the trailed        vehicle is pivotable with respect to the transverse member about        a vertical axis.

Preferably the transverse member is a rod, bar or tube and may beprovided with a plurality of spaced attachment apertures or elongateslot for location of the pivot connection means which then may befastened in position by a suitable fastener.

The movable arms of the prime mover are preferably spaced hydraulic armsof a tractor which comprise part of the conventional three point linkagediscussed above. Each hydraulic arm may be attached to an associated endof the transverse member by suitable pivot attachment means such as eachend of the transverse member having associated therewith a pivot pinwhich is enclosed by a bush or bearing which is attached to an adjacenthydraulic arm.

The pivot connection means of the hitch assembly may be a ball joint orbearing which surrounds a pivot pin or fastener between the transversemember and the frame member or draw bar of the ground maintenancemachine.

The hitch assembly as described above is especially advantageous in asituation involving a prime mover such as a tractor, an intermediatevehicle which may include a turf aeration machine and a hopper ortrailer connected to the intermediate vehicle. The provision of thehitch assembly enables the hopper or trailer to be turned simultaneouslywith a turning movement of the tractor. This enables turf aerationoperations to be carried out far more efficiently than use of theconventional three point linkage.

Another advantage of use of a hitch assembly as described above is thatan intermediate vehicle which may include a sweeper, mower, snowclearing machine or other ground maintenance machine having one or moreoperating members in contact or adjacent the ground, may be transportedby the tractor or prime mover clear of the ground and supported by thewheels of the hopper or trailer as shown hereinafter in the preferredembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings.

It will also be appreciated that the hitch assembly of the invention maybe used in a two vehicle situation where a prime mover such as a tractormay transport a trailed vehicle such as a mower or ground roller whereinthe trailed vehicle may be transported on its rear wheels when it hastwo pairs of ground engaging wheels.

A further advantage of use of the hitch assembly as described above inrelation to use of a ground maintenance machine means that the operatingmembers of the ground maintenance machine such as slicing blades, mowingblades, brooms or scrapers are always allowed to fully float i.e. followground contours or undulations.

The invention therefore in a second aspect refers to a combination of aprime mover such as a tractor and a trailed vehicle such as a groundmaintenance machine interconnected by the hitch assembly of theinvention.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a combination of aprime mover such as a tractor, intermediate vehicle and a trailedvehicle wherein the tractor and the intermediate vehicle areinterconnected by the hitch assembly of the invention.

The invention in a fourth aspect refers to a ground maintenance machinehaving a ground rotor having one or more operating members which mayinclude reels, brooms, blades, scrapers, scarifiers or cutters whereinthere is provided a lift rotor located above the ground rotor forelevation of debris removed from the ground whereby the ground rotor andlift rotor are enclosed in a housing having a rear exit for transport ofsaid debris in use onto the ground or into a trailed vehicle attached tothe ground maintenance machine.

Preferably the ground rotor may be a scarifier rotor and in thisembodiment there also may be provided a broom rotor located behind thescarifier rotor and the lift rotor is located above the scarifier rotorand the broom rotor.

However the ground rotor may also comprise a broom rotor in combinationwith the lift rotor.

Preferably at least two of the rotors are timed to rotate simultaneouslywith their operating members including paddles, brooms or bladesarranged to rotate in unison with only a relatively small distancebetween the operating members. This provides a vacuum in the housing andfacilitates rapid elevation and movement of debris through the rearexit. This may be accomplished in one embodiment by a timing ortransmission belt interconnecting gears, pulleys or sprockets of rotableaxles supporting the operating members.

Also within the housing there may be provided one or more internaldeflectors to also facilitate removal of debris from the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention asshown in the attached drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side view of a combined assembly of a tractor, turf aeratorand hopper wherein the turf aerator is connected to the tractor by thehitch assembly of the invention and the hopper is connected to the turfaerator and the turf aerator is shown in operational position in contactwith the ground;

FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 wherein the turf aerator is shownelevated above the ground for transport purposes;

FIG. 2A is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing a two vehicle arrangement ofthe invention interconnected by the hitch assembly of the inventionwherein the trailer vehicle is supported only by a pair of rear groundengaging wheels;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the turf aerator of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing operation of the turf aerator ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the turf aerator of the invention showing partof the drive train for driving the scarifier rotor, broom rotor and liftrotor;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a jacking mechanism for heightadjustment of the front rollers of the turf aerator of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a height adjustment mechanism for therear rollers of the turf aerator of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the drive train from the tractor in regard todriving the scarifying rotor of the turf aerator of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hitch assembly of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the hitch assembly of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing operation of the hopper in regard todumping scarified material onto the ground;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the axle of the hopper beingpivotally attached to an undercarriage of the hopper, and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing operating of a sprigging apparatusof the invention which is attached to the hopper and used for harvestingof scarified material for replanting purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIGS. 1–2 there is shown tractor 9 attached to turf aerator 10through an upper drive connection assembly 28 and lower hitch connectionassembly 29A which are both described in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and8–10. The turf aerator 10 comprises a housing 14 having opposed sides14A shown in FIGS. 1–2 and 14B shown in FIG. 5. Turf aerator 10 also hasa drive casing 15 and support rollers 16 and 17. There is provided achain 8 for connecting turf aerator 10 with a hopper 19 which chain 8 isattached to lugs 8A and 8B respectively. There is also provided brackets18 and 18A interconnected by pivot joint 20 whereby hopper 19 may bepivoted with respect to turf aerator 10. Tractor 9 is supported byground engaging wheels 21 and 22 and hopper 19 is supported by groundengaging wheels 23. Hopper 19 is provided with an entrance 24 forreceiving harvested material or turf debris from turf aerator 10. Thereis also provided a latch assembly 24A on hopper 19 for releasing a door19A shown in FIG. 11 to allow for discharge of material 150 shown inFIG. 11 from hopper 19 into a trailer (not shown) or onto the ground 25as may be required. Latch assembly 24A is pivoted to hopper 19 at 24B.

FIG. 1 shows the turf aerator 10 in operational position with rollers 16and 17 in contact with ground 25. FIG. 2 shows the turf aerator 10 in atransport position with rollers 16 and 17 clear of ground 25. This maybe achieved by upward pivotal movement of tractor hydraulic arms 26 andupward pivotal movement of power take off shaft 27 of tractor 9 asdescribed hereinafter.

FIG. 2A illustrates the two vehicle arrangement of the invention whereinthe turf aerator 10 may be dispensed with and hitch assembly 29A isconnected directly to a draw bar 29C of a trailed vehicle 19A as shown.In this arrangement vehicle 19A is supported only by rear groundengaging wheels 23A and a front pair of castor wheels 23B are elevatedoff the ground 25.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a detailed view of the upper drive connectionassembly 28 between power take off shaft 27 and turf aerator 10. In thisarrangement drive connection assembly 28 includes a safety cover 29 ofthe concertina type which encloses power take off shaft 27 shown inphantom which is housed by rubber tubes 27B and 27C. There is alsoprovided a clutch 30 which includes adjusting springs 33. The springs 33are retained in position on pins 33A shown in FIG. 8 by appropriateretainers (not shown). The clutch 30 is provided with end plates 31 and32.

There is also provided the lower hitch connection assembly 29A betweentractor 9 and turf aerator 10 wherein there is provided a pair ofhydraulic arms 26 pivotally attached by pivot joints 38 to transversearm 39 having a plurality of attachment apertures 40. In a selectedaperture 40 there is attached a hitch joint 41 comprising opposed arms42 of connection means 37A between turf aerator 10 and transverse arm39. The connection means 37A also comprises longitudinal frame member ordraw bar 52 of turf aerator 10. Each arm 42 has aligned apertures (notshown) through which extends fastener 43. There is also provided washers44.

The turf aerator 10 is provided with an end frame 45 having obliqueframe members 46, uprights 48, 49 and 50, braces 51, longitudinal framemember 52, oblique frame member 53 and cross members 54 and 55. There isalso provided upper frame member 56 which support a mounting plate 58for clutch 30 and housing 37. Housing 37 is attached to mounting plate58 by securing straps 59 and fasteners 60. Mounting plate 58 is alsoattached to oblique frame member 61.

It will be appreciated that transverse arm 39 and hence tractor 9 may bepivoted about a vertical axis defined by fastener 43. It will also beappreciated that each of arms 26 may pivot about a horizontal axisdefined by transverse arm 39.

There is also shown brushes 68A attached to the sides 14A and 14B andframe 45 of turf aerator 10 which facilitate creation of a partial sealwithin the interior of turf aerator 10 to produce a vacuum as describedbelow in relation to FIG. 4. Such brushes 68A are suspended fromelongate supports 68B by fasteners 68C.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a schematic side view of an internal mechanism64 of turf aerator 10 which comprises scarifier rotor 65, broom rotor 66and lift rotor 67. Scarifier rotor 65 comprises shaft 68 havingscarifying blades 69 attached thereto by brackets 70 and fasteners 71 .The broom rotor 66 comprises broom shaft 72 having a plurality of brooms73 attached thereto. Each broom 73 comprises a bristle component 74 andsupport base 75. The lift rotor 67 has lifting blades 77 attached toshaft 78. There is also shown a rear deflector 80A.

In operation of the internal mechanism 64 as ground material or debrisis scarified by blades 69 penetrating the ground 25 such material islifted or elevated above scarifier rotor 65 and this is facilitated bythe provision of deflector 79. Each of the broom rotor 66 and lift rotor67 are timed for simultaneous rotation so that blades 77 are alignedwith brooms 73 in a similar orientation as shown in FIG. 4. This actionprovides for elevation of scarified material above scarifier rotor 65 asshown by the arrows in full outline so that no scarified material isdeposited on ground 25. If any scarified material falls below lift rotor67 and rearwardly of broom rotor 66 then deflector 80 pushes saidscarified material into the area of rotation of brooms 73 so that suchmaterial is propelled upwardly as it deflects of the rear surface ofdeflector 79.

It also will be appreciated that the method of operation of internalmechanism provides generation of a large volume of air so that sweepingand vacuuming of scarified material can be carried out simultaneously.

It will be appreciated that both deflectors 79 and 80 are adjustablevertically for depth control of scarifier rotor 65 and broom rotor 66.

It will also be appreciated that scarifier rotor 65 may be replaced ifdesired by a differently configured rotors for different tasks such asfor example the provision of a flail mowing rotor or alternatively maybe omitted.

It will further be appreciated that if desired there may be provided afurther lift rotor or plurality of lift rotors above lift rotor 67 fordischarge of scarified materials at higher levels than the level shownin FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a side view of turf aerator apparatus 10showing part of the drive train for scarifier rotor 65, broom rotor 66and lift rotor 67. There is provided right angle gear box 81 which isconnected to clutch 30 which is coupled to gear box 81 having outputshaft 82 to which is attached sprocket or gear pulley 83. Transmissionbelt 84 is engaged with gear pulley 83 as shown and belt 84 also engageswith gear pulley 85 coupled to shaft 68. There is also providedtensioning pulley 86 for regulating tension of belt 84 as may berequired.

Thus from the foregoing it will be appreciated that transmission belt 84is responsible for driving shaft 68. There is also provided anothertransmission belt 87 shown in phantom located on the side 14A of turfaeration apparatus 10 which is connected to an end gear pulley 142 ofshaft 68 shown in FIG. 8 and which is responsible for driving shaft 72.There is also provided timing belt 88 which is coupled to gear pulley 89of shaft 78 and gear pulley 90 of shaft 72 so as to achieve simultaneousrotation of both shafts 72 and 78 as described previously. There is alsoprovided tensioning pulley 91 for regulating tension of timing belt 88as may be required. The transmission belt 87 is encased in drive casing15 shown in FIGS. 1–2.

In FIG. 5 there is also shown bearings 92 for each of shafts 68, 72, 78and 82 as well as bearing housings 93 for each of these shafts whicheach are attached to an adjacent side 14B of renovator 9 by fasteners94.

There is also provided a jacking mechanism 96 for height adjustment ofrollers 16 shown in FIG. 6. Jacking mechanism 96 comprises a fixed outercylinder 97 which is attached to an end projection 54B of rigid supportplate 54A. Support plate 54A is welded to cross member or frame member54 of turf aerator 10 at 54C. There is also provided a cylinder 98 whichis telescopic with outer cylinder 97 and movable thereto. Attached tocylinder 98 is a support bracket assembly 99 for roller 16. Movablecylinder 98 has an end cross arm 99A attached to opposed projections 99Bof support bracket assembly 99 by fasteners 99C. Support bracketassembly 99 also comprises a rear plate 100 and a pair of opposed endprojections 101. Roller 16 is attached to each end projection 101 byfasteners 102. Fasteners 103 attach support bracket assembly 99 to aframe member (not shown) of frame 45.

Movement of cylinder 98 is achieved by rotation of handle 104 which hasa knob 105. When it is desired to adjust the height of rollers 16 thehandle 104 is rotated causing an internal jacking screw (now shown) tomove support bracket assembly 99 in slots 108 and 109. When a desiredheight is obtained, releasing knob 105 allows the knob 105 to fall to aposition wherein it is stopped from further movement by contact with endprojection 54B. Both fasteners 106 and 107 are free to move in theirmating slots 108 and 109 of upper strap 110 of support bracket assembly99 and thus support bracket assembly 99 is able to move vertically. Thusall that is required to adjust the height of rollers 16 is actuation ofhandle 104 and knob 105 as described above.

In FIG. 7 there is provided a rear height adjustment mechanism 112 forrollers 17. This comprises an adjustment plate 113 which is attached toroller 17 by fasteners 114 having washers 115. There is also providedsupport bracket 116 for roller 17 which is attached to adjustment plate113 by fasteners 117 having washers 118. Adjustment plate 113 is alsoprovided with adjustment apertures 119 for insertion of a locking pin120 having handle 121. Locking pin 120 extends through slot 122 inflange 123 of mounting bracket 124 which is also attached to adjustmentplate 113 by fasteners 125 having washers 126. There is also provided acatch 127 having attachment sleeve 128 to locking pin 120 which isretained in position by retainer 129. Catch 127 has a foot 130 to whichis attached a spring 131 by hook 132. The provision of spring 131ensures that locking pin 120 is always biased inwardly. Locking pin 120also extends through slot 133 of lug 134 attached to mounting bracket124.

It will be appreciated during height adjustment of rollers 17 that afterrelease of fasteners 125 mounting plate 124 may be pivoted about theaxis of fasteners 125 as may be required to allow insertion of lockingpin 120 in a selected attachment aperture 119.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a drive train 130 for scarifying rotor 65.Drive train 130 includes output shaft 131 of tractor 9 coupled to powertake off shaft 27 through a first universal joint 133. Drive shaft 27has an inner component 134 telescopic with outer component 135. There isalso provided outer safety sleeve 136 which may comprise components 27Band 27C shown in FIG. 3. There is also provided universal joint 137which interconnects drive shaft 27 to a friction overload clutch 30 viacoupling 138. There is also provided drive shaft 139 having a piniongear 140 coupled to a crown gear 141 of shaft 82. This results inrotation of shaft 82 to thus drive scarifying rotor 65 as alreadydescribed in FIG. 5. Transmission belt 87 has a pulley gear 142 as wellas pulley gear 143.

In FIGS. 8–10 further details of the lower hitch connection assembly 29Aare shown wherein the fastener 43 having a shaft 144 and head 145 isprovided with a bearing 146 which enables shaft 144 to function as apivot arm to thus facilitate pivotal movement of arm 39 about an axisdefined by shaft 144. There is also provided washer 146 and nut 147.

In FIG. 11 there is shown pivotal movement of an upper container part148 of hopper 19 relative to an undercarriage 149 to thus pour scarifiedmaterial 150 onto ground 25 or a trailer (not shown). Also in FIG. 12axle 151 of hopper 19 is pivoted to undercarriage 149 at 153 tofacilitate floating of scarifier rotor 65 relative to ground 25 wherebyscarifier rotor 65 may follow ground contours or undulations.

In FIG. 13 there is shown sprigging apparatus 160 which is attached toturf aeration apparatus 10 by brackets 161 with fasteners (not shown)being inserted through attachment apertures 162. There is also providedan endless belt 163 having scraper bars 155 interconnected by chains165. Belt 163 is driven by a hydraulic motor 164 which drive sprockets166. There is also shown a sprigging rotor 168 having a plurality ofspikes 168A which has rotatable axle 168 driven by another hydraulicmotor (not shown) by an appropriate drive coupling (not shown). There isalso shown deflector 169. Also provided is a speed control valve 170 forcontrolling the speed of belt 163. It will be noted that when scarifiedmaterial 171 is pushed into the interior 172 of hopper 19, shown by thearrow in full outline, by the action of lift rotor 67, the action ofbelt 163 propels the scarified material 171 towards rotor 168, alsoshown by the arrow in full outline, wherein after passage through rotor168 the sprigs 173 are fluffed up and spread evenly and thinly on ground25 for harvesting purposes. There is also shown entrance 24 defined byfront wall 174 of the hopper 19 and roof outline 175.

In another embodiment the sprigging rotor 168 may be dispensed with andthus belt 163 may be used to dispense scarified material 171 onto theground at a dump site if required or refuse container (not shown).

In operation of the turf aeration apparatus of the invention thefollowing sequence of events is followed:

-   -   (i) the ground maintenance machine 10 is set to the required        depth by appropriate height adjustment of rollers 16 and 17;    -   (ii) the tractor hydraulic arms 26 are lowered below the hitch        assembly 29A;    -   (iii) the arms 26 are then elevated and attached to transverse        bar 39;    -   (iv) the turf aerator 10 is then elevated off the ground;    -   (v) the chains 8 are then adjusted until they are tight;    -   (vi) the turf aerator 10 is then lowered to the ground to        commence operation.

The turf aerator 10 of the invention may be used for scarifying orproviding slices in the ground 25 as well as dethatching the groundwhereby dead grass is removed and grass is lifted upwardly by blades 69extending below the grass. It is also possible to remove stolons orrunners or trailing roots located above the ground so as to thin thegrass and provide an even smooth surface. It is also possible tocarrying out sweeping operations and use hopper 19 for stolon and coreharvesting, as shown in FIG. 13, whereby the grass is replanted atanother location.

It will also be appreciated that the turf aerator 10 of the inventioncan be used on completely waterlogged ground or in heavy rain as thepresence of large amounts of surface groundwater does not affect theoperation of the turf aerator 10.

It will also be appreciated that the method of operation of the groundmaintenance machine 10 comprising steps (i) through (iv) above mayconstitute a fifth aspect of the invention.

Also there may be provided a sixth aspect of the invention whichincludes a method of ground maintenance as shown in FIG. 13 for examplewhich includes the steps of:

-   -   (i) aerating the ground for the purpose of slicing, scarifying,        dethatching, mowing or sweeping whereby ground debris including        turf particles are conveyed upwardly in a closed aeration zone        to exit the closed aeration zone above the ground;    -   (ii) conveying the ground debris into a storage zone; and    -   (iii) moving the ground debris through the storage zone; and    -   (iv) passing the ground debris comprising turf, roots, runners        and stolons through a sprigging device for ultimate deposition        on the ground whereby the ground debris is processed for        replanting purposes.

1. A ground maintenance machine having: (i) a pair of ground rotors,each having at least one operating member wherein said operating membercontacts the ground when in use, the ground rotors being timed tooperate simultaneously with their operating members rotating in unisonand having a similar orientation with only a relatively small distancebetween each ground rotor, wherein the pair of ground rotors comprise afront ground rotor and a rear ground rotor relative to a direction oftravel of the ground maintenance machine; (ii) a deflector locatedintermediate each of the ground rotors and occupying said relativelysmall distance; (iii) a lift rotor located above said pair of groundrotors in unison with the operating members of the rear ground rotor andhaving a similar orientation with only a relatively small distancebetween the lift rotor and the rear ground rotor with the front groundrotor spaced from the lift rotor by a larger distance; (iv) a frontdeflector located in advance of the front ground rotor and the liftrotor; and (v) a rear deflector located rearwardly of the rear groundrotor and the lift rotor whereby each of the pair of ground rotors andlift rotor are located in a housing having a rear exit for transport ofdebris or loose ground material generated by the pair of ground rotorsin use.
 2. A ground maintenance machine as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe front ground rotor is a scarifier rotor having operating members inthe form of scarifying blades that penetrate the ground.
 3. A groundmaintenance machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rear ground rotoris a broom rotor having a plurality of brooms configured to contact theground.
 4. The ground maintenance machine as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe operating members of the ground rotors comprise one or more reels,paddles, brooms, blades, scrapers, cutters or slicers attached to arotatable rotor axle.
 5. The ground maintenance machine as claimed inclaim 1, wherein there is provided a timing or transmission beltinterconnecting gears, pulleys or sprockets of rotatable axlescomprising part of the scarifier rotor and the broom rotor.
 6. Theground maintenance machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein there isprovided a jacking mechanism for height adjustment of a front pair ofrollers attachable to the ground maintenance machine.
 7. The groundmaintenance machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided aheight adjustment mechanism for height adjustment of a rear pair ofrollers of the ground maintenance machine.
 8. A ground maintenancemachine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is support by at leastone ground engaging roller non-pivotable attached to a front of thehousing.
 9. A ground maintenance machine as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe housing is supported by at least one ground engaging rollernon-pivotable attached to a rear of the housing.
 10. A combination of aprime mover having hitched thereto and the ground maintenance machine ofclaim 1 and a trailer attached to the ground maintenance machine.